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When Will Chelsea Face Reporters Questions (instead of supporters)
When will Chelsea Clinton, Hillary’s daughter, face the heat of reporters asking her questions?
Chelsea has been traveling the country campaigning for her mom. She visits colleges and clubs around the nation, giving speeches of support for Hillary. As of yet, she’s not to had to face national reporter’s questions. Why is this?
It’s as though the media still feel she’s off limits being an ex-president’s daughter. Have the Clinton’s warned the media that she’s ‘off base’? Have they been threatened something like, “if you go after Chelsea and I win the White House, you won’t get access to me”?
What other excuse could there be? Chelsea, like any other Clinton campaign worker/advisor is responsible for answering reporter’s questions, yet she’s gotten off the hook several times.
When will the media demand answers from this young lady? She’s 28 years old for gosh sakes – she can handle it.
The current controversy over her mom’s accounts of her First Lady Bosnia trip makes for a very good time to talk to Chelsea. She was there for gosh sakes. Make her answer questions, not spin her “love” for her mom. What did she hear? What did she see? Get her on record.
Comments (7)
I agree with you that Chelsea dosen't deserve the same kind of cover that she had when she was younger (read: not actively working for a campaign), but I think there is a good reason she hasn't been interviewed by reporters:
She doesn't have anything to say.
March 26, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do commentators say that Obama threw his grandmother "under the bus" (tired metaphor), but fail to criticize HRC for kindness to McCain, who joked that Janet Reno sired Chelsea, and fail to criticize Bill for appearing on Limbaugh, who called Chelsea the family dog.
Something about the Clintons deforms the way people respond to stimuli.
David Shuster was right. By putting Chelsea out there, barring press access to her, and attempting to put her in adulatory situations in a heated political campaign, there is a weird mixture of coddling and using that seems exploitive.
March 26, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just saw a clip of her at a college where a student asked her to comment on the Lewinsky affair and how it affected her. She handled it with aplomb, basically saying that no one has ever asked her that before and that it was none of his business. She ended up with that same head-nodding that her mother does when she wants to make a point.
She probably doesn't realize that reporters are unlikely to ask her such difficult questions; they surely don't do that as a rule to anyone else. She certainly knew how to handle this one, though.
Does anyone remember when a little girl asked Bill Clinton if he wore boxers or briefs? This was when he was President. He should have given the same answer Chelsea did, but instead he actually responded, "Briefs."
March 26, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
In this case she does and SHOULD BE MADE to do so. Her mom was caught lying -- says the media. Are they lying Chelsea?
March 26, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chelsea's recent refusal to answer a supporter's question regarding if her mother's handling of the Lewinsky scandal (vast right wing conspiracy) might affect her credibility WAS in the public interest. The young man did not ask how the scandal affected Chelsea - that would have been a "none of your business" answer.
At 28, Chelsea, no longer a little girl in need of sheltering, has grown into a lovely young woman and should be treated as such by the press. If she's mature enough to campaign, she's mature enough to handle the press.
March 26, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm an Obama supporter and I cannot stand Hillary, but nobody, NOBODY should ask Chelsea to comment on Monica Lewinsky. It is stupid and trashy. How could Chelsea's take on such a personal thing that happened when she was so young be anyone's business, or for that matter, objectively answered?
There is plenty of stuff Chelsea could be asked, but no one will have the opportunity.
March 26, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to disagree with NOBODY asking about the relationship and how it may effect the CAMPAIGN. Key word is CAMPAIGN. If you go around supporting and speaking about the campaign of Hillary AND Bill Clinton, no matter WHO you are, you should be prepared to answer the question in terms of the CAMPAIGN.
March 26, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
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